Source identification of an unknown spill (2002) from Canal Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec by the multi-criterion analytical approach and lab simulation of the spill sample

This study characterized the chemical composition of a variety of laboratory oil samples in order to determine the type, nature and sources of 3 unknown oil samples from an oil spill that occurred in Canal Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec in 2002. An integrated multi-criterion approach using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/flame ionization detection was applied to characterize the laboratory samples. Results of chemical fingerprinting were presented. The distribution patterns of hydrocarbons in the spill and suspected source samples were recognized and compared. The study also involved an analysis of oil characteristic biomarkers and the extended suite of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Several diagnostic ratios of source-specific marker compounds for fingerprint interpretation were determined. The major components in the suspected source samples were then identified. 40 refs., 5 tabs., 10 figs